Spuing to the knives of straw-cutters



J. B. STOCKTON.

Straw Cutter. No. 11,734. Patented Sept. 2-6, 1854.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JOSEPH B. STOCKTON, OF WARREN COUNTY, KENTUCKY.

SPRING TO THE KNIVES 0F STRAW-CUTTERS.

Specification of Letters Patent No. 11,734, dated September 26, 1854.

To all whom, it may concern Be it known that I, JOSEPH B. STOCKTON, of Varren county, in the State of Kentucky, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Straw Cutters, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description, reference being had to the accompanying drawing, which forms part of this specification, and which represents a view in perspective of a straw-cutter having my improvements applied thereto.

My improvement consists of an adjustable spring guide for the knife, secured to the front part of the frame. The peculiar function of this spring is to keep the cutter or knife properly up to its work, by pressing it against the steel face (B) of the box, which forms a stationary cutter thereby preventing the straw or other substance being operated on from passing through uncut, which is the case more or less with the class of cutters as heretofore constructed and arranged.

In the accompanying drawing A represents the box to receive the straw supported on cross legs, B the fixed cutter, and also forms the mouth piece of the box. The movable cutter (F) is pivoted to the frame below the mouth of the box, and plays between it and the spring guard. Within the cutting box and near its mouth is a press board (G) pivoted to the sides of the box, in such manner that it is free to rise and fall; on one end of the board is attached a spring (H) which is secured at the other end to the crosspiece (cl); the object of this spring is to depress that end of the board next to the cutter upon the straw, hay, or other substance being cut; by this means it is held in an inclined position, thus affording great facilities for feeding, for as the spring will yield to allow the board to rise to admit the straw, it will at the same time hold the straw firmly and compactly as it is presented to the action of the cutters. To the lower part of the front legs is attached a strong crosspiece (D), projecting from either s1de of the legs a short distance, to each end of this crosspiece is fastened a spring bar (E) and the two are united together at the top, forming an acute angle. Between the crossbar (D) and the fixed cutter (B) is a second crosspiece (I) secured to the front of the box, and sufficiently low to permit the downward stroke of the blade. To this crosspiece the spring frame is held by means of adjusting screws (K) whereby the pressure of the spring upon the knife is regulated. By such a contrivance as this the cutting edge of the movable cutter is kept constantly bearing against the stationary cutter in making the cutting or downward stroke, and prevented from being forced outward by the irregular pressure of the hand, or the resistance of the substance being cut; for if the pressure upon the moving knife tending to force it from the fixed knife should be opposite one side of the double spring, the force of both sides of the spring would be brought into operation to keep it up to its work; for one side of the spring cannot be raised without raising the other also because the two are united at their outer end.

l/Vhat I claim as my invention and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

The construction and arrangement of the adjustable double-spring guide, the moving and the fixed cutters, whereby the moving knife is held up to its work, whether the resistance opposed to it, be at the middle,

or at either end.

JOSEPH B. STOCKTON.

Witnesses:

J. B. UNDnRwooD, F. G. HARVEY. 

